Storage and carrying apparatus

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION IS A STORAGE AND CARRYING APPARATUS OPERABLE TO CONVEY ITEMS SUCH AS A CABLE OR HOSE REEL AND READILY CONVERTED FROM A STORAGE CONDITION TO THE USAGE CONDITION THROUGH LIFT AND STORAGE MEANS. MORE PARTICULARLY, THIS INVENTION IS A SUPPORT AND CONVEYANCE MEANS OPERABLE TO BE MOVED THROUGH LIFT AND STORAGE MEANS INCLUDING A LIFT HANDLE ASSEMBLY RELEASABLY CONNECTED TO A CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WHEREUPON THE HANDLE ASSEMBLY IS READILY MOVABLE FROM A HORIZONTAL LIFT CONDITION TO AN UPRIGHT STORAGE CONDITION.

Sept. 20, 1971 RQUSSEAU E'IAL 3,605,311

STORAGE AND CARRYING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 25- 1969 INVIiN'IOR.

CORWIN E. ADAMS BY KENNETH E. ROUSSEAU ATTORNEY States Patent Office 3,606,371 Patented Sept. 20, 197.1

US. Cl. 28047.24 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is a storage and carrying apparatus operable to convey items such as a cable or hose reel and readily converted from a storage condition to the usage condition through lift and storage means. More particularly, this invention is a support and conveyance means operable to be moved through lift and storage means including a lift handle assembly releasably connected to a connector assembly whereupon the handle assembly is readily movable from a horizontal lift condition to an upright storage condition.

Numerous types of hand cart or truck conveyance structures are known to the prior art but are not readily adaptable to lift very heavy, bulky objects easily nor having the support structure easily placed in a storage condition when not in use. Additionally, the prior art hand truck apparatus is generally bulky in size, complicated in nature, hard to use, and not operable to present a very compact structure during both usage and storage conditions.

In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a cable storage and carrying apparatus is provided operable to receive objects such as large reels of telephone cable thereon for conveyance and storage. More particularly, the storage and carrying apparatus includes a support and conveyance means adapted to receive the cable reel thereon with movement controlled through a lift and storage means. The support and conveyance means includes a main support means connected to wheel means for moving the same along a given support surface. The support means includes a main body assembly having parallel tube members provided with upright support posts extended substantially 90 thereto to receive the cable reel therebetween. Additionally, the support means includes aspaced pair of support legs on each tube member extended perpendicular to the main body assembly in the opposite direction of the support posts for supporting the same on the support surface in the storage condition. The lift and storage means includes a lift handle assembly mounted through a connector assembly to the parallel support tube members of the support means. More particularly, the lift handle assembly includes a pair of handle members interconnected at upper and lower portions by support bars and pivotally connected to support lugs on the tube members for pivotal movement thereabout. The connector assembly includes a pair of guide tubes connected to outer respective edges of the tube members and having an anchor bar assembly operably connected thereto. The anchor bar assembly includes a pair of spaced support tubes interconnected as by an anchor bar having the support tubes telescopically mounted about the parallel guide tubes. The anchor bar assembly is axially movable about the guide tubes to an upper released position whereupon the lift handle assembly can be pivoted about the support lugs. The anchor bar assembly is movable toward the guide tubes to place the support tubes in telescopic engagement about the adjacent abutting guide tubes and tube members to provide a connection thereto for lifting and conveyance of the storage and carrying apparatus.

In the released condition, it is obvious that the lift handle assembly can be pivoted to a position substantially perpendicular to the tube members whereupon the anchor bar assembly can be moved downwardly to place one of the support tubes about a connector tube on one of the tube members to hold the lift handle assembly in an upright position for storage purposes.

One object of this invention is to provide a storage and carrying apparatus overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.

One other object of this invention is to provide a storage and carrying apparatus having a support and con-- veyance means connected to a lift and storage means which is pivotally movable substantially from a storage condition to a conveyance condition.

Still one further object of this invention is to provide a storage and carrying apparatus having a lift and storage means connectable to a support structure whereupon the lift and storage means has a lift handle assembly connected through a connector assembly so as to move from a locked lift condition to an upright storage condition as required.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a storage and carrying apparatus .whichis economical, to manufacture, simple to use, maintenance free, and rigid in construction.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the storage and carrying apparatus of the invention illustrated as having a cable reel mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-4 in FIG. 1 having the cable reel removed therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the storage and carrying apparatus of this invention illustrated in the storage condition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2; and I FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a storage loc ing feature of the storage and cable apparatus of this invention.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new storage and car rying apparatus of this invention, such being made'with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numberals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/ or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention. 1 i

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular FIG. 1, the storage and carrying apparatus of this invention, indicated generally at 12, is shown as having acable reel 14 mounted thereon through connector shafts 16. As such cable reels 14 are generally heavy and very bulky but requiring the same to be easily moved during the process of laying cable, it is obvious that the storage and carrying apparatus 12 of this invention provides a new and novel structure to solve a known problem.v

The storage and carrying apparatus 12 includes a main support and conveyance means 18 which is controlled and maneuvered through a lift and storage means- 20. More particularly, the support and conveyance means 18- includes a main support means 22 to be movedovera given support surface 24 through the use of wheel means The support means 22 includes a main body; assembly 27 having one end secured to the Wheel means 2 6 and having a mid-portion thereof secured'toupright' parallel support posts 29. The main body assembly 27 includes elongated parallel tube members 31' and-33ysecured to rigid s pp p t 4 an avingthef wardaends thereof interconnected as by a support channel 36. The support plates 34 are provided on the undersides with spaced foot structures 38 extended parallel in the opposite direction to the support posts 29, each having a foot member 39 adapted to contact the support surface 24 when in the storage condition which will be explained. The rearward ends of the support tubes 31 and 33 are provided with inwardly extended support lugs 41 being axially aligned to each other. The support tube 31 is provided with an upright storage connector tube 43 extended perpendicular thereto for reasons to become obvious.

The wheel means 26 includes additional support mem bers 44 secured as by welding to the inner side of the upright support posts 29 cooperating with the support plates 34 and having wheel members 46 mounted therebetween. More particularly, the wheel members 46 are connected by bolt members 48 and bearing members between the respective support plates 34 and the support members 44 so as to be readily rotatable therewithin in a substantially conventional manner. The wheel means 26 is positioned so that when the support means 22 is extended in a horizontal condition, the wheel members 46 are elevated from the support surface 24 for the storage condition. Also, in this condition, it is seen that the support posts 29 extend perpendicular to the support surface 24.

The lift and storage means 20 includes a main lift handle assembly '52 operably connected through a connector assembly 54 to the support means 22. More particularly, the lift handle assembly 52 includes a pair of parallel handle members 56 having the upper and lower ends thereof interconnected as by cylindrical support members 58 and 59, respectively. The upper ends of the handle members 56 are curved in a parallel fashion having handle grip members 61 on the outer ends thereof usable for the maneuvering of the storage and carrying apparatus '12 as will become obvious. The lowermost cylindrical support member 59 is pivotally connected by having its outer open ends mounted about the support lugs 41 connected to the tube members 31. and 33. It is seen therefore, that the lift handle assembly 52 as described is pivotal about the support means 22 from usage to storage conditions as will be explained.

I 4 structures 38 are had in supporting engagement with the surface 24 to achieve the storage condition of the support and conveyance means 12 as shown in FIG. 3.

Next, it is obvious that the actuator bar member 69 can be grasped by one utilizing the storage and carrying apparatus '12 of this invention and pulled outwardly towards the lift handle assembly 52. This causes the support tubes 68 to move axially relative to the tube members 31 and 33 so as to move further up on the parallel guide tubes 63 and 64. Thereupon, it is obvious that this movement results in a release or disconnection of the abutting adjacent tube members 31 and 33 and guide tubes 63, 64 whereupon the lift handle assembly 52 can be pivoted counterclockwise to the storage condition as viewed in The connector assembly 54 includes parallel guide tubes 2 63 and 64 secured to the lift handle assembly 52 and operably connected to an anchor bar assembly 66. More particularly, the guide tubes 63 and 64 are secured to respective outer surfaces of the handle members 5 6 as by welding or theli'ke at mid-portions thereof.

The anchorbar assembly 66 includes a pair of support tubes 68'interconnected as by an actuator bar member 69. In assembly, the support tubes 68- are telescopically mounted over respective ones of the guide tubes 63 and 64 so that the same is movable axially relative thereto. The-connector assembly 54 further includes a pair of opposed facing stop lugs 71 secured as by welding to the outer surface of the handle members 56 to receive the support tubes 68 thereagainst to provide a feature limiting downward movement of the actuator bar assembly 66. It is noted that the connector tube 43; the tube members'31, 33; and the guide tubes 63 have substantially the identical external diameter so as to receive the support tubes 68 of the actuator bar assembly 66 thereabout in a snug manner as will become obvious.

FIG. 3. On reaching the upright position extended substantially perpendicular to the support surface 214, it is obvious that the actuator bar member 69 can be moved downwardly upon the parallel guide tubes 63 and 6-4 whereupon the support tube 68 is telescopically engageable with the upright connector tube 43 as shown in FIG. 5. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, this results in a neat, compact storage condition of the storage and carrying apparatus 12 of this invention whereupon the support tube members 31 and 33 are protected by the lift handle assembly 52 to prevent anyone from tripping thereover and the cable reel 14 and storage and carrying apparatus 12 achieves a compact condition which is necessary and desirable in such operations.

It is seen that the storage and carrying apparatus of this invention provides a device which is readily connectable to reels or other such bulky and heavy items for conveyance similar to a hand truck to any given desired location. Also, the storage and carrying apparatus of this device is provided with a new and novel lift and storage means having a lift handle assembly readily movable from a rigid usage condition to a co'mpact storage condition in a most efficient and effective manner. Also, the lift and storage means of this invention is provided with connector assemblies to anchor the same in its usage or storage condition in a minimum amount of time and effort. Also, it is noted that the storage and carrying apparatus of this invention is economical to manufacture, reliable in operation and use, substantially maintenance free, and provides utmost efiiciency of time and space.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that'this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is detherein to receive the connector shafts 16 of the cable fined by the following claims.

We claim: 1. A storage and carrying apparatus adapted to convey a cable reel or the like comprising: I

'(a) a support and conveyance means having a support means to receive the item to be carried thereon connected to ground or floor engaging means for moving the salme along a surface;

' (b) a lift and storage means having a lift handle assembly mounted on said support means by a connector assembly;

:(c) said lift handle assembly having parallel handle members pivotally connected to said support means;

-(d) said connector assembly having spaced parallel guide tube members slidably mounted relative to said handle members and interconnected by a bar member whereupon said connector assembly is movable from one condition in engagement with said support means to provide a rigid connection thereto and movable to a second condition providing for the ready pivotal movement of the lift handle assembly to a compact storage condition;

(e) said support means having a pair of parallel tube members having one end thereof secured to wheel means and the other opposite ends thereof connected to Said lift handle assembly;

(if) said connector assembly having said support tube members movable axially relative to said handle irnembers so as to be telescopically engageable with said tube members to provide for a rigid lateral connection thereto; and

(g) said connector assembly also including guide tubes secured to said tube members having said support tube members telescopically mounted thereon whereby said support tube members are movable to a position concurrently about said guide tubes and said tube members providing lateral stability for lifting purposes.

2. A storage and carrying apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said support means having an upright storage connector tube mounted upon one of said tube members extended substantially perpendicular thereto; and

-(b) one of said support tube members operable to be telescopically engaged with said connector tube in the upright storage condition to prevent lateral movement of said lift handle assembly.

3. A storage and carrying apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said connector assembly having stop lugs secured to said handle members to limit downward movement of said support tube members in the lift conditions by engagement therewith.

4. A storage and carrying apparatus as described in claim '1, wherein:

(a) said support ineans having upright support posts extended perpendicular to said tube members to carry such as a cable reel thereon and a plurality of foot structures extended in the opposite direction to engage with the support surface in the storage condition, and (b) said foot structures each having flat foot members engageable with the support surface in the storage condition and of a size to hold said wheel means of said support and conveyance means out of engagement with the support surface for lateral stability.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner L. J. PAPERN-ER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

